A strain energy model for the prediction of the effective coefficient of thermal expansion of composite materials

作者：Xu, Yingjie; Zhang, Weihong^*

来源：Computational Materials Science, 2012, 53(1): 241-250.

DOI：10.1016/j.commatsci.2011.08.013

• Coefficient of thermal expansion
• Strain energy
• Microstructure modeling
• Numerical prediction
• Composite material

In this paper, a strain energy model is developed for the prediction of the effective coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of composite materials. This model is based on the relationship established between the strain energy of the microstructure and that of the homogenized equivalent model under specific thermo-elastic boundary conditions. Expressions in closed-form are derived for the effective CTE in terms of the strain energy and effective elastic tensor. Different kinds of composites are tested to validate the model. Representative unit cells with specific boundary conditions are used to evaluate effective CTEs that are compared with available results obtained numerically and experimentally.

• 出版日期2012-2
• 单位西北工业大学